Stillwater Prison Closure Sparks Demands for Community-Led, Humane Transition

The impending closure of the crumbling Stillwater Prison has ignited calls from formerly incarcerated leaders and justice-impacted individuals for a safe and just transition that centers the voices of those who know the prison system from the inside out.

Press conference held by a group of formerly incarcerated individuals, loved ones and advocates

A coalition of advocates, many of whom served decades behind the walls of Stillwater, is urging Minnesota officials to approach the closure not merely as a cost-saving measure, but as a pivotal moment to reimagine incarceration in the state.

Outside the prison last Thursday , the coalition laid out a comprehensive set of demands aimed at ensuring that the process is community-driven and prioritizes the safety and dignity of incarcerated people.

Key Demands Include:

1. Formation of a Transition Coalition led by people formerly and currently incarcerated at Stillwater, alongside all relevant stakeholders.

2. Full enforcement of the 2023 Minnesota Rehabilitation and Reinvestment Act (MRRA) earned time law before transferring any residents to other facilities.

3. Implementation of safety-focused transition protocols, including allowing incarcerated individuals to choose preferred cellmates, ensuring availability of single bunks, and permitting those serving life sentences to remain at Stillwater through the end of 2025.

4. Adoption of a “no-new-beds” policy, which would prevent expansion of incarceration elsewhere as a result of Stillwater’s closure.

“This is not just about shutting down a building—it’s about people,” said coalition member Kevin Reese, Executive Director of Until We Are All Free. “We lived what’s happening behind those walls. A closure can’t be considered a community victory if those most affected by it are left out of the conversation.”

Zeke Caligiuri of the Minnesota Justice Research Center (MNJRC) and the Re-Enfranchised Coalition emphasized the need to focus on deeper systemic reforms. “This is a financial move,” he said. “But the problems in Minnesota prisons go far beyond one facility. The people locked away in these institutions—and their families—deserve to have their needs and voices prioritized.”

Stillwater Prison, one of the oldest correctional facilities in the state, has long drawn criticism for deteriorating infrastructure and harsh conditions. While many advocates see its closure as a step forward, they warn that without thoughtful execution, the transition could cause further harm.

Justin Terrell, Executive Director of MNJRC, expressed gratitude to Governor Tim Walz and Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell for making the tough decision to shutter the aging facility. “It’s not just a 100-year-old crumbling facility, it’s a 100-year-old crumbling idea,” Terrell said. “We need to move on.”

Yet, Terrell cautioned that how the closure happens will be just as important as the decision itself.

“We have an opportunity,” he said. “We can reimagine what incarceration looks like in Minnesota. This is a moment to center humanity, engage the public, and build a more just system that truly supports accountability and rehabilitation.”

The coalition’s appeal urges Minnesota leaders to create a closure process that doesn’t replicate the harms of the existing system, but instead lays the groundwork for lasting reform. They advocate for a future where prisons are no longer the default response to harm, and where healing, support, and community engagement are the cornerstones of justice.

In a statement to BLCK Press, the MN DOC said, "The direction to close MCF-Stillwater did result from a budget agreement between legislative leaders and the Governor due to the facility’s aging infrastructure and fiscal constraints. Nevertheless, the DOC is mindful of the needs of individuals and will take those needs into account in transfer planning."

The DOC said as the department begins to plan the phased closure, the commissioner is open to engaging with the coalition to gain their perspectives and insights. Watch the full presser below.